Multiple interoperability points for scalable media coding and transmission
A method and device for encoding, decoding, storage and transmission of a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties. The method includes: producing one or more layers of the scalable data stream, wherein the layers are characterized by a coding property, and signaling the layers with the coding property such that they are readable by a decoder to determine the coding property without analyzing the scalable data stream. Also, a method of encoding, decoding, storage, and transmission of a scalable bit stream, wherein at least two scalability layers are present and each layer is characterized by a set of at least one property, such as profile, level and a set of at least one HRD/VBV parameter, that may be different from that of the entire stream, and wherein said a set of at least one property is signaled for at least one layer that is different from the entire stream, wherein signaling of said a set of at least one property may be in said scalable bit stream, in a file format container containing said scalable bit stream, or in a transmission or control protocol for transmission or control of at least one layer of said scalable bit stream.
1 . A method of encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties, said method comprising:
producing at least one layer of said scalable data stream, wherein said at least one layer is characterized by a first coding property; and
signaling said at least one layer with said first coding property such that it is readable by a decoder to determine the coding property without analyzing the scalable data stream.
2 . A method of encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 1 , wherein said coding properties include at least one of a profile and level combination and a set of Hypothetical Reference Decoder/Video Buffer Verifier (HRD/VBV) parameters.
3 . A method of encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 1 , wherein said signaling is performed within a bit stream of said scalable data stream.
4 . A method of encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 1 , wherein said signaling is performed within a file format capable of storing said scalable data stream.
5 . A method of encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 1 , wherein said signaling is performed within a transmission protocol capable of transmitting said scalable data stream.
6 . A method of encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 1 , wherein said data stream comprises video data and wherein said profile is an advanced video codec (AVC) profile and said level is an AVC level.
7 . An encoder for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties, said encoder comprising:
a first component for producing at least one layer of said scalable data stream, wherein said at least one layer is characterized by a coding property; and
a second component for signaling said layer with said characterized coding property such that it is readable by a decoder without the need to decode the entire layer.
8 . An encoder for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 7 , wherein said coding properties include at least one of a profile and level combination and a set of Hypothetical Reference Decoder/Video Buffer Verifier (HRD/VBV) parameters.
9 . An encoder for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 7 , wherein said second component is configured such that said signaling is performed within a bit stream of said scalable data stream.
10 . An encoder for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 7 , wherein said second component is configured such that said signaling is performed within a file format capable of storing said scalable data stream.
11 . An encoder for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 7 , wherein said second component is configured such that said signaling is performed within a transmission protocol capable of transmitting said scalable data stream.
12 . An encoder for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 7 , wherein said data stream comprises video data and wherein said profile is an advanced video codec (AVC) profile.
13 . A decoder for decoding a scalable data stream that includes layers having different coding properties, said decoder comprising:
a first component for receiving said scalable data stream;
a second component for identifying at least one layer in said scalable data stream and reading an indication associated with said layer of its coding property;
a third component for determining whether said decoder is capable of decoding said layer based on said coding property; and
a fourth component for decoding said layer if said third component determines that the decoder is capable of decoding said layer based on said coding property.
14 . A decoder for decoding a scalable data stream that includes layers having different coding properties according to claim 13 , wherein said data stream comprises video data and wherein said coding property of said at least one layer is an advanced video codec (AVC) profile.
15 . A data structure implementing a scalable data stream comprising:
a first layer of data having a first coding property;
a first indication associated with said first layer identifying said first coding property;
a second layer of data having a second coding property; and
a second indication associated with said second layer identifying said second coding property.
16 . A data structure implementing a scalable data stream according to claim 15 , wherein said first coding property includes at least one of a profile and level combination and a set of Hypothetical Reference Decoder/Video Buffer Verifier (HRD/VBV) parameters.
17 . A data structure implementing a scalable data stream according to claim 15 , wherein said first indication is associated with a bit stream of said scalable data stream.
18 . A data structure implementing a scalable data stream according to claim 15 , wherein said first indication is associated with a file format capable of storing said scalable data stream.
19 . A data structure implementing a scalable data stream according to claim 15 , wherein said first indication is associated with a transmission protocol capable of transmitting said scalable data stream.
20 . A data structure implementing a scalable data stream according to claim 15 , wherein said scalable data stream comprises video data and wherein said first and second coding properties are advanced video codec (AVC) profiles.
21 . A program product for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties, said program product comprising machine-readable program code for causing, when executed, one or more devices to perform the following:
producing at least one layer of said scalable data stream, wherein said at least one layer is characterized by a first coding property; and
signaling said at least one layer with said first coding property such that it is readable by a decoder to determine the coding property without analyzing the scalable data stream.
22 . A program product for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 21 , wherein said coding properties include at least one of a profile and level combination and a set of Hypothetical Reference Decoder/Video Buffer Verifier (HRD/VBV) parameters.
23 . A program product for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 21 , wherein said signaling is performed within a bit stream of said scalable data stream.
24 . A program product for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 21 , wherein said signaling is performed within a file format capable of storing said scalable data stream.
25 . A program product for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 21 , wherein said signaling is performed within a transmission protocol capable of transmitting said scalable data stream.
26 . A program product for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 21 , wherein said data stream comprises video data and wherein said profile is an advanced video codec (AVC) profile.
27 . A device for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties, said device comprising:
means for producing at least one layer of said scalable data stream, wherein said at least one layer is characterized by a first coding property; and
means for signaling said at least one layer with said first coding property such that it is readable by a decoder to determine the coding property without analyzing the scalable data stream.
28 . A device for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 27 , wherein said coding properties include at least one of a profile and level combination and a set of Hypothetical Reference Decoder/Video Buffer Verifier (HRD/VBV) parameters.
29 . A device for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 27 , wherein said signaling is performed within a bit stream of said scalable data stream.
30 . A device for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 27 , wherein said signaling is performed within a file format of said scalable data stream.
31 . A device for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 27 , wherein said signaling is performed within a transmission protocol of said scalable data stream.
32 . A device for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 27 , wherein said data stream comprises video data and wherein said profile is an advanced video codec (AVC) profile.
33 . A converter for modifying a scalable data stream comprising layers to facilitate decoding, said converter comprising:
a first component for receiving said data stream and reading coding property indicators associated with layers of said data stream;
a second component for comparing said coding property indicators with capabilities of a destination decoder to determine which layers are decodable by the destination decoder; and
a third component for modifying said data stream to be decodable by the destination decoder;
a fourth component for transmitting said modified data stream to the destination decoder.
34 . A converter for modifying a scalable data stream comprising layers to facilitate decoding according to claim 33 , wherein said third component is configured to remove layers of said data stream that are not decodable by the destination decoder.
35 . A decoder for decoding a scalable data stream that includes layers having different coding properties according to claim 13 , wherein said coding property of said at least one layer includes at least one of a profile and level combination and a set of Hypothetical Reference Decoder/Video Buffer Verifier (HRD/VBV) parameters.
36 . A method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one layer is an enhancement layer.
37 . An encoder according to claim 7 wherein said at least one layer is an enhancement layer.
38 . A decoder according to claim 13 wherein said at least one layer is an enhancement layer.
39 . A data structure according to claim 15 wherein said at least one layer is an enhancement layer.
40 . A program product according to claim 21 wherein said at least one layer is an enhancement layer.
41 . A device according to claim 27 wherein said at least one layer is an enhancement layer.
42 . A converter according to claim 32 wherein said at least one layer is an enhancement layer.
43 . A method of encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 1 , wherein said first coding property is the same as that of the scalable data stream.
44 . A method of encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 1 , wherein said first coding property is different than that of the scalable data stream.
45 . A data structure implementing a scalable data stream according to claim 15 , wherein said first coding property is the same as that of the scalable data stream.
46 . A data structure implementing a scalable data stream according to claim 15 , wherein said first coding property is different than that of the scalable data stream.
47 . A program product for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 21 , wherein said first coding property is the same as that of the scalable data stream.
48 . A program product for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 21 , wherein said first coding property is different than that of the scalable data stream.
49 . A device for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 27 , wherein said first coding property is the same as that of the scalable data stream.
50 . A device for encoding a scalable data stream to include layers having different coding properties according to claim 27 , wherein said first coding property is different than that of the scalable data stream.
51 . A method of storing a scalable data stream comprising at least two scalability layers, each of said at least two layers being characterized by a coding property, said method comprising:
analyzing said scalable data stream to identify the coding property characterizing a first layer in said scalable data stream;
storing said identified coding property and said first layer in a file format container according to a file format specification.
52 . A method of transmitting a scalable data stream comprising at least two scalability layers, each of said at least two layers being characterized by a coding property, said method comprising:
determining from at least one of said scalable data stream and a file format container containing said scalable data stream the coding properties of said at least two scalability layers;
determining at least one of said at least two scalability layers to transmit to a receiver based on receiver decoding capabilities;
transmitting said at least one layer to a receiver.